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PIX: Axar spins India to 10-wicket victory in Motera

Last updated on: February 25, 2021 21:57 IST

India's skipper Virat Kohli celebrates with opener Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill after victory over England in the third Test

IMAGE: India's skipper Virat Kohli celebrates with opener Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill after victory over England in the third Test, at the Narendra Modi stadium, in Ahmedabad, on Thursday. Photograph: BCCI

Axar Patel finished with a match haul of 11 wickets as India beat England by 10 wickets inside two days in the day-night third Test, at the Narendra Modi stadium, in Ahmedabad, on Thursday.

The defeat dashed England's hopes of making the final of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) in June.

 

On a viciously turning track, England were shot out for 81 in the second innings, their lowest ever total against India.

Chasing 49 for victory in the spin-dominated, low-scoring contest, India overwhelmed the target without losing a wicket to go 2-1 up in the four-Test series.

Axar Patel celebrates the wicket Zak Crawley in England's second innings

IMAGE: Axar Patel celebrates the wicket of Zak Crawley in England's second innings. Photograph: BCCI

The hosts need a draw in the final Test, also in Ahmedabad from March 4, to reach the WTC final against New Zealand.

England were on the back foot since being skittled out for 112 in their first innings on a turning track at the world's largest cricket stadium.

Joe Root and Jack Leach shone with the ball to drag the tourists back into the contest by bowling out India for 145.

The tourists, however, suffered a second batting collapse to allow the hosts to take charge again.

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates his 400th Test wicket

IMAGE: Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates after taking his 400th Test wicket. Photograph: BCCI

Earlier, resuming on 99-3, India looked on course for a handy first-innings lead but Root (5-8) and Leach (4-54) wreaked havoc with the pink ball.

Rohit Sharma top-scored for India with 66 but the hosts lost their last seven wickets for 31 runs.

Patel had claimed six of the 10 English wickets in the first innings and the left-arm spinner returned to haunt them with a two-wicket first over.

IMAGE: Zak Crawley is bowled by Axar Patel. Photograph: BCCI

Ben Stokes (25) and Root (19) offered hints of a partnership before they fell in successive overs.

Patel went on to claim 5-32, while Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed four batsmen en route to reaching 400 Test wickets.

England lasted 30.4 overs with all 10 batsmen falling to spin.